makehopetag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-3632002009-10-13T08:09:04-05:00thoughts from a passionate fundraiserTypePadCharlotte's Feckless Mission Possible Drifts into Mission Improbabletag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00d83432c1cb53ef0120a5dd08a7970b2009-10-13T08:09:04-05:002009-10-13T08:21:24-05:00image courtesy of the irrepressible & very cool Hugh Macleod At first I was excited about Charlotte's Mission Possible - a heady and well sanctioned effort to.. "Charlotte Mission Possible is a joint effort by local media outlets to help...mike gibbons

At first I was excited about Charlotte's Mission Possible - a heady and well sanctioned effort to..

"Charlotte Mission Possible is a joint effort by local media outlets to
help Charlotte residents understand the charitable needs of the
community, and find ways to help."

...I thought hey what a great idea - after all the hullabaloo about our United Way transgressions (unforgivable) and us almost losing our (awesome) Charlotte Symphony - this is what we need - some fresh, bold, think different ideas. The premise was to solicit ideas bottom up and top down -- you needn't be a non profit pro to fix this problem - and so hundreds of people submitted ideas which were dutifully highlighted in the Charlotte Observer. I have to say the majority of the ideas (I read) were rational and prudent. Alas for me...I don't remember saying "Hey that idea is NUTS, but it just might work!"

Therein lies the problem.

Non Profits in my experience act (they must) a bit lot like For Profits - after all they're both seeking revenue/donations and must dutifully manage acquisition costs of said revenue/donations. Just think about how similar the Campaign goals (NP) and Sales goals (FP) really are - both strive for/want more at the lowest cost. That's OK, I just think NPs need to come to terms with this reality, embrace it. Get comfortable employing "for profit" strategies towards a higher purpose.

So why do I think Mission Possible will drift into Mission Improbable? After months of effort a few ideas boiled down - one being a central website as The Charlotte Observer reports..."Put them (Charlotte charities) all on one Web site where people can find them quickly to donate or volunteer." hmmm...not a bad "possible" idea - which is subsequently doused with the cold water of "improbability"...(from the article)

"The technology for a "nonprofit portal" certainly exists. But experts
saycharities have shown little interest in making it happen.

Here's why: If one Web site accepts donations for all local
charities, that site's owner could control the donor lists. And experts
say charities, which treat such lists like gold, rarely share such
information.

"It sounds like a good idea, but nobody wants
their donors to go anywhere else," said Chris Meade, executive director
of the Charlotte office of NPower, a national nonprofit that helps
charities harness technology. He called charities' reluctance to pool
donor information "the big hairy monster" blocking online cooperation."

Blah fear Blah fear Blah fear... As Chris Meade says.."charities' reluctance to pool
donor information (is the) "the big hairy monster". Think about that as
if alzhiemers is going to steal away the Amnesty International donor (and so what if it does it works in reverse too)
I think this kind of fear (unfounded) thwarts change and worse cuts
short any budding initiative at the very first stumble or sign of failure - never letting ideas morph and grow. How many times have you (will you) hear "We tried social media but the ROI wasn't there, it's not for us."

Too many charities do covet and protect those gilded lists mostly so they can send out another inane/annoying email blast or 10,000 innocuous (or worse) mailers. (sure they work sometimes but then so does phishing sometimes). They won't inhabit (they visit) Twitter and Facebook for fear of saying the wrong thing or worse they don't know what to say**. Ultimately they do what has worked before (safe) even though it no longer works (risky). Kinda like the old adage..."Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM. But now you sure can get your head handed to you over a misstep on Twitter @fired!

**here's the perfect Tweet by the way: just talked with @bestfundraiser read what she's doing to break through donor fatigue here at greatidea.com

So back to Mission Possible - what did we expect - take some potentially great "grassroots" ideas
> boil them down > add a committee/panel/board > take the
teeth out - refine the ideas > present idea for approval >>
REPEAT.

No wonder I never found the gumption (spirited initiative) to submit Buttons of Hope to Mission Possible - I thought about it and then considered the number of ways it would be pooh poohed and ultimately shot down - like so many think different ideas.

Oh and just for fun here's my take on the Mission Possible statement...

"Charlotte Mission Possible is a jointan all out effortby local media outlets tohelpwake upCharlotte residentsunderstandto the sharedcharitable needs ofthetheircommunity. We willfind ways to helpsearch out and implement the boldest most innovative ways to be the difference."

Thirteen Pieces of Paper to Save Trees? The Sierra Club is Brokentag:typepad.com,2003:post-664046972009-05-05T18:13:18-05:002009-05-05T18:24:41-05:00What if The Sierra Club sent me a note offering to adopt a grizzly bear and watch her movements (radio collar) on a google map, or team me up with an oceanographer studying killer whales where I could access some...mike gibbons

What if The Sierra Club sent me a note offering to adopt a grizzly bear and watch her movements (radio collar) on a google map, or team me up with an oceanographer studying killer whales where I could access some of the recorded whale calls** ~ maybe even download a whale call as my phone ringtone! What about a $100 donation gets you access to streaming video of a mountain ascent or rainforest expedition or gorgeous raw High Def footage...

**by-product I'll bet the scientist would love to know someone cares and who knows what interesting synergies might come out of that connection

But they didn't. They sent me another tired old mailing with 13 pieces of paper to in their words (you can't make this up) "Don't let the timber industry get away with it!"Almost makes you want to give money to the timber industry! Almost.

If I could virtually duck I would because I know I just stepped on the third rail of the non profit world but the fact is this part ofThe Sierra Club's fundraising is broken. Oh I'm sure it works ~ and the CEO could show me in a powerpoint (no doubt) why and how the mailings work ~ raise money. But the truth is The Sierra Club like so many big charities are smack dab/safely in the middle of the road to mediocrity. One day soon/now the road is going to turn and well you know the coda. Someone has to take a bold step forward and I don't mean setting up a Twitter account or a FaceBook fanpage ~ good stuff but not bold enough.

Truth is all of fundraising is not broken especially at the grassroots. The little guys and gals, the passionates are busting their butts doing amazing things. It's the hierarchical hierarchy that gets in the way, most mean well it's just the fear of change that has literally paralyzed too many major charities.

The Sierra Club should be one of my favorite charities ~ I am passionate about saving & preserving the outdoors. And yet Sierra lost me, in fact they pissed me off -- they sold my name and because I gave them $50 once they think it gives them license to bug the heck out of me. I bet I'm not the only one. Alas I don't think I really matter to The Sierra Club, fifty bucks right -- I am sure it's a numbers game which is pretty obvious if you take the time to scroll down through the 13 page "protect our timber" mailer I scanned in below.

So what good is a rant? Well in my few minutes of brainstorming I came up with several novel ideas surely the Sierra Club could come up with some ideas too but first they'll have to stop stuffing envelopes and sitting back waiting for the paper checks to arrive! Who knows maybe whale call ringtones would go viral!

Yes the following really did come in one envelope...

Yes Man at Buttons of Hope | Oh and you don't need insurance.tag:typepad.com,2003:post-635294192009-03-02T09:11:47-05:002009-03-02T19:25:01-05:00When I read Seth Godin's post today Looking for Yes** -- I couldn't resist! Below is an email I recently sent to a new prospect* - all yes(es) and one (good) no. What makes this so interesting is I learned...mike gibbons

When I read Seth Godin's post today Looking for Yes** -- I couldn't resist! Below is an email I recently sent to a new prospect* - all yes(es) and one (good) no. What makes this so interesting is I learned to (and believe in) be a "yes man" because of Seth. It's not always easy & I'm sure some have taken advantage but just knowing how pleasantly shocked they might be is reward enough! *Jennifer loved the buttons!

** As for the Post Office, I use USPS almost everyday (thank God for the automated machines) if USPS workers (and too many others) were less concerned with upselling ~ I just paid $8 bucks to ship this why is your first question "Do you want insurance?" ~ maybe they could focus on listening & serving the needs I have not the ones you want me to have.

Google has no half-lifetag:typepad.com,2003:post-634640892009-02-28T10:46:56-05:002009-02-28T10:46:56-05:00My friend Seth Godin today suggests that we all have a personal brand whether we know (or like it) or not. Google* is at once powerful and scary -- the good, the bad and the dumb will show up (and...mike gibbons

My friend Seth Godin today suggests that we all have a personal brand whether we know (or like it) or not. Google* is at once powerful and scary -- the good, the bad and the dumb will show up (and stay) on Google. Google doesn't have a half life, it has not only a long tail, but a permatail. I am proud (and relieved) to say minelooksprettygood (and busy), how's yours?* Jeff Jarvis' What Would Google Do Is a awesome book.

Small is a BIG problem for Non Profitstag:typepad.com,2003:post-619880202009-01-29T09:43:54-05:002009-01-29T09:43:54-05:00Small things are so often a portent of bigger problems. Regular readers of this blog or it's sister blog Behind the Button know that I started a company called Buttons of Hope that uses custom photo buttons to help people...mike gibbons

Small things are so often a portent of bigger problems. Regular readers of this blog or it's sister blog Behind the Button know that I started a company called Buttons of Hope that uses custom photo buttons to help people with their fundraising by putting a face on their cause. Mine is a small start up with a big ambition and mission ~ to change the face of fundraising. While the major charities have been thus far less than enthused about the idea I am making buttons for hundreds of people who are inspired and often share their stories and powerful testimonials here, here and evenhere.

So is this just all about Mike Gibbons' sour grapes - not at all and here's why. As I forge on making 1000s of buttons caring about each button, each story and each fundraiser as if they were the only one ~ the peoplewho wear buttons crave to share their stories with someone who'll listen ~ the big charities are too often indifferent and I think missing a very BIG opportunity.

In December Buttons of Hope made a (albeit small) donation to a well respected national cancer charity**. I sent the following letter (below) with a few of the actual buttons and the $41 check. Today I received a form postcard with fill in the blank for date and donation amount (see below) good I suppose for tax purposes but given the nature of my letter I was nonplussed to say the least.

You might be thinking geessh I read all this way and basically some guy is ticked because his $41 bucks did not evoke "top donor" recognition? NO the point is this: I think non profits have out of convenience, necessity or both forgotten the little guy, the grassroots. More disconcerting for them, you never know if that little guy is in fact a little guy? This non profit had no way of knowing that behind the $41 buck donation is a guy who also started a cycling team that has raised over $270,000 for cancer charities the past four years! Small can be a very big problem for even big non profits. Indeed.

(those are my thoughts I would really value your feedback/comments on this especially if you are with a non profit)

This is the letter I sent...

This is what I received...

Icing on Dr. Martin Luther King's caketag:typepad.com,2003:post-615885322009-01-19T12:59:54-05:002009-01-19T12:59:54-05:00Anything I could write here would pale in comparison to the resonance of Dr. Martin Luther King's own words as he extols his noble vision in his "I Have a Dream..." Listen and then act. And I think as appropriate...mike gibbons
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Anything I could write here would pale in comparison to the resonance of Dr. Martin Luther King's own words as he extols his noble vision in his "I Have a Dream..." Listen and then act.
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And I think as appropriate icing to Dr. King's birthday cake is this stirring performance of <em>Pride in the Name of Love</em> by irish lads U2 I can only imagine too the feelings of U2 especially Bono as they played their homage to Dr. King on the very spot where he made his groundbreaking speech. Enjoy, there is always more we can do!
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Who'sa laughing now? Peter Schiff foretells the meltdowntag:typepad.com,2003:post-598392822008-12-10T20:17:13-05:002008-12-10T20:17:13-05:00Have you ever been laughed at for being right but just a bit too early (I think I have but it's too early to tell haha). Peter Schiff definitely was, watch this video compilation of what Peter Schiff, president of...mike gibbons
<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Have you ever been laughed at for being right <em>but</em> just a bit too early (I think I have but it's too early to tell haha). Peter Schiff definitely was, watch this video compilation of what Peter Schiff, president of EuroPacific Capital was saying in 2006-2007 about the looming housing and banking meltdown. Sure it's easy to look back now with 20/20 hindsight but his words were eerily specific and right!&nbsp;
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After watching this you may want to hear what he has to say about the auto bailout, who knows he might be right again!
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I know one thing most of the <em>experts </em>turn out to be anything <em>but</em> -- trust <strong><em>your</em></strong> gut is sage advice I think!
<em><strong>Thanks to my friends at <a href="http://www.churchofthecustomer.com/" target="_blank">Church of the Customer</a> blog for pointing this one out!</strong></em></p></div>
The answer? "Bailout" Honda, Toyota and BMW.tag:typepad.com,2003:post-588339622008-11-21T10:59:47-05:002008-11-21T10:59:47-05:00Uh Huh that's right. Instead of spending $25,000,000,000 bailing out the big mediocre three why not invest in Toyota, Honda and/or BMW! All three have BIG plants in the US employing thousands of Americans for gosh sake! (BMW has a...mike gibbons

Uh Huh that's right. Instead of spending $25,000,000,000 bailing out the bigmediocre three why notinvest in Toyota, Honda and/or BMW! All three have BIG plants in the US employing thousands of Americans for gosh sake! (BMW has a thriving plant 90 miles from me in Greenville SC).

So here's why...

First it's a better investment -- these companies are already winning in the marketplace1a. they would better know how to put the capital to work

The investment would impact American workers/economy more immediately & longer term 2a. It would help foreign companies -- so what! they own a LARGE piece of America anyway (get over it)

How would it work?3a. Make the investment contingent on adding capacity or fast track building of new plants in the US -- better to have successful companies building on success versus failed ones retooling in the hopes of success.

Why would it work?4a. If the medium three went under there would be a supply (capable/motivated workforce) and demand (replace GM, Chrysler, Ford car volume) opportunity of epic proportions.

That's it. Bold yes. Simple yes. Smart yes. Congress has asked the car-makers for a business plan geesssh can you imagine reading that? versus asking BMW or Honda what would they would do with $20 billion?

**Oh and one more thing take the VOLT project, choose a joint venture partner Honda, Ford or BMW put a/the Steve Jobs in charge and give him** 12 months to get it to market...well you get the idea! (**yeah I know...but he didn't know anything about the music or phone biz either.)

Free the Beatles! Let it Be tag:typepad.com,2003:post-585699482008-11-16T11:06:00-05:002009-07-07T12:13:07-05:00What you're about to read may seem naive and impossible - you're right. BUT what if some "think different" people went to work on this - the bad news is the only problem is money, the good news is the...mike gibbons

What you're about to read may seem naive and impossible - you're right. BUT what if some "think different" people went to work on this - the bad news is the only problem is money, the good news is the only problem is money. Imagine the power, the legacy of Michael Jackson and the Beatles music curing cancer or alzheimers or providing clean drinking water or saving education everywhere.Imagine indeed. July 3, 2009

With the events of Michael Jackson's death...I am revisiting my original post from January 2007...

What if...Today the surviving members of the Beatles, Paul and Ringo wives Yoko and Olivia announced the creation of The Apple Core Foundation. Together Apple Inc. and Apple Corps. and Michael Jackson's estate will fund this foundation to benefit (insert four five causes). Starting today the complete Beatles digital music library will be available exclusively on iTunes. Further the lads from Liverpool and Michael's estate signed a 100 year grant whereby 100% of all proceeds from the Beatles music sold on iTunes will go to the Apple Core Foundation to battle (insert four causes) until they are defeated. Apple Inc. will distribute the music on iTunes at no cost to the project.

So you say it could never happen because its only about the money and I say it absolutely could happen because after all its only about the money.

Seth Godin reads Tribes for 95¢...remarkable!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-571754852008-10-18T11:52:20-05:002008-10-18T11:52:20-05:00Know what I love about this guy he puts his money where his mouth is, he walks the talk. I mean who else does stuff like this in the middle of a book intro -- he gives the thing away!...mike gibbons

Know what I love about this guy he puts his money where his mouth is, he walks the talk. I mean who else does stuff like this in the middle of a book intro -- he gives the thing away! It's genius.

Seth Godin thanks for a super cool book for under a buck -- I am going to use it as an awesome way to spread the word -- to discover and uncover new tribe members....who get it!